Gender issues in computer science Video

This is yet another production of my video:

http://www.screencast.com/users/emmanuelonyeador/folders/Default/media/2279f4d9-7522-4b28-8c36-7373c10b53ec

The video is available here:

http://www.mydeo.com/videorequest.asp?XID=19047&CID=250535

This is the earlier attempt to create a video which resulted in the interactive video presentation here:

http://voicethread.com/share/352756/

References  

 

 

Beyer, S., Rynes K., Perraulti, J., Hay, K., & Haller, s. (2003). Gender Differences in Computer Science Students. SIGSCE ACM 1-58113-648-x/03/0002. Retrieved on Retrieved on December 30, 2008 from http://www.acm.org digital library.

 

Burge, J. D. & Suarez, T. L. (2005). Preliminary Analysis of Factors Affecting Women and African Americans in the Computing Sciences.  SIGSCE ACM 1-59593-257-7/05/0010. Retrieved on December 30, 2008 from http://www.acm.org digital library. 

 

By the number.  National Center for Women & Information Technology. Retrieved on February 10, 2009 from http://www.ncwit.org/pdf/Stat_sheet_2007.pdf.

 

Mody, P. N, & Briamard, S. G. (2006). Successful International Initiatives Promoting Gender Equity in Engineering.  Women and ICT. ACM 1-59593-301-8/06/01. Retrieved on December 30, 2008 from http://www.acm.org digital library. 

 

Protopsaltis, A. & Bauki, V. (2008). Gender and Information Processing in the Electronic Age.  SIGDOC. ACM 978-1-60558-083-8/08/0009. Retrieved on December 30, 2008 from http://www.acm.org digital library. 

 

Sakamoto, A. (1994). Video game use and the development of socio-cognitive abilities in children: Three Surveys of elementary school students. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24(1).

 

Taulbee Survey. Internet. Retrieved on December 22, 2009 from

 http://www.cra.org/CRN/articles/may05/taulbee.9to16.

 

 

 

Graphic Organizer for Engaging Online Learners

Engaging Learners

Anderson (2008) articulated how the role of an instructor in engaging learners in an online environment as very important   The instructor has an important role in the entire learning process, which will include the planning of the lesson or unit, monitoring and managing the learning, and assessing the learning.  Taking the time to plan the unit may sound simple but instructors have always complained of the lack of time.  Anderson (2008) identified three important components that will help engage learners in an online learning environment and they are
social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence.

This is true in a traditional learning environment as it is in an online learning environment.  The use of tools that aid collaborative and participatory learning is needed and more so in an inner city urban schools.

Gender issues in Computer Science Education

TOPIC: Gender Issues in Computer Science Education

Introduction

Definition

History

Differences

Issues

Results and Impact in Technology Education

Results and Data

Demographic Variables

Ability in Quantitative Areas

Educational Goals and Interests

Gender Attitude towards Course

Personality

Stereotypes

Prior Knowledge

Discrimination

Gender

Cultural

Economic

Social

Impact on Education and Training

Multiple intelligence

Attitude and Interest

interactive Learning

Authentic Assessment

Gender interactions within the classroom

Classroom management

Content delivery

Behavior management

Constructivist classroom

Support and Encouragement

Mentors

Stress control and counseling

Financial issues and award of scholarships and recognitions

Field Trip

Job shadowing

Internships

Guest Speakers and motivational activities

Sensitization and awareness building

Remedial classes and targeted workshops

Mobilization of Community Support for Schools

Linkages with Mainstream and other initiatives

Instructional materials development and professional development opportunities

Conclusion

References

Mody, P. N, & Briamard, S. G. (2005). Successful International Initiatives Promoting Gender Equity in Engineering. Women and ICT. ACM 1-59593-301-8/06/01

Beyer, S., Rynes K., Perraulti, J., Hay, K., & Haller, s. (2003). Gender Differences in Computer Science Students. SIGSCE ACM 1-58113-648-x/03/0002. Retrieved on 12/30/2008 from http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/620000/611930/p49-beyer.pdf?key1=611930&key2=7164581321&coll=GUIDE&dl=GUIDE&CFID=18148216&CFTOKEN=55303422

Protopsaltis, A. & Bauki, V. (2008). Gender and Information Processing in the Electronic Age. SIGDOC. ACM 978-1-60558-083-8/08/0009. Retrieved on December 300, 2008 from http://www.acm.org digital library.

 

Assessing online learners

I find assessing online learners really interesting and not so challenging if well planned.  Students need grades at the end of the learning process to reflect the level of learning they received whether in face to face or online learning environment.  The equivalence theory wants to equate the experiences in both environment for the same grade.  While I do not disagree with this, my issue is to be certain that my planning and implementation ensures that equitable experience.

I have incorporated several strategies that help offer my students an excellent experience.  The use of electronic portfolio, project-based learning, students working in cooeperative learning groups, and making sure that all students are aware of the learner outcome and expectations through well defined rubrics. 

The issue of access to the appropriate tools in the high school DE must be

Distance education

The internet is probably one of the greatest inventions.  I want to say that it is also changing how we teach and how we learn in ways that we never envisaged.  It is empowering us to to become what ever we want to be.  Through online distance learning we are enrolling into classes remotely, access courses that were completely outside our reach, teachers that we had no access to, curriculum that we only heard of years ago.  It is allowing us to become newscasters, journalists and and share news items that only years ago coud be done by big news organizations.

It is safe for me to say that to a great extent it is leveling the playing field so that such issues like equity and access are begining to be dismantled.

I am looking at a future where distance education is the norm.

Many students are gradually getting used to using distance  education formalities.

Simulations and Games

At our network meeting two weeks ago, one of our district colleagues shared his experiences with me regarding the challenges of teaching computer programming course in a high school.  It is at times frustrating because the student are unwilling to invest the type of patience require to develop logical solutions.  It requires critical thinking and the application of mathematical reasoning.

One of the things missing is the motivation and the persistence.  Programming the way it is taught is simply not relevant to the students experiences and their reaction is to disengage from the lesson.

Games and simulation are one way to engage the students in the learning process.  Many of our students are interested in games and will do anything to play them. We are going to explore the possibility of game programming.  May be the students can relate to this.  There may be an opportunity to attract and keep the interest of the students in gaming, game design, game programming.  I will begin this exploration and development this Christmas break.

Learning Objects Repositories.

When I think of learning objects I always  thick back to object oriented programming principles.  The fact that this way of thinking about programming may have the same parallel as learning objects.  I believe we are talking about the same context of object.  The same principles requiring that object are reusable and can be inherited.  In the same way these objects can be collected into repositories that can be used and reused for different learning environments.

This new technology will become popular given that this way of programming has already worked so well with the web and directly lends itself to the paradigm shift in the software industry.

Educators are finding that LMS technology has a tremendous future giving the nature of teacher and student collaboration that is at the core of many school reforms.  Reforms that are quietly encouraging teachers to make the learning environment user friendly, student-center, and the application of constructivist strategies into teaching and learning.

Learning and content Management Systems

Learning Management Systems and Content Management Systems

LMS for is a convienent yet effective way for me to access content for my learning needs.  I am intrigued by how these learning and content management systems are evolving and how they arebreaking traditional barriers.  Isn’t that what many of the new tools are doing?  They are providing access to many who have for too long had to contend with less choice at best.  They are bridging the digital divide that have for too long been own and controled by the rich.  Now they are empowering the people and suddenly allowing everyonepeek through and enjoy the priviledges that had eluded them for too long.

Image how training and content experts that years ago were unavailable to everyone and that many only heard and dreamed of, are now availabe for delivery through the internet.  These delivery and management systems are now a click away form everyone.

I just read the views on informal learning in  Tony Karrer’s elearning blog at   http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/2006/10/informal-learning-and-learning.html.  He agreed with Dennis Coxe about what he sees as the rebellious devotion to formal learning.  One of the key arguments is that cost that separates LMS from content access.  He claims that LMS places a “toll booth between the user and the knowledge he is trying to access.”

What in our world is not about money.  I tend to be skeptical when I hear the word free preceeding any offer.  I usually wait long enough until I see what it is I am going to buy.  It is always embedded somewhere.  The issue is can you be patient enough to get to the full thrust of the cost.  Give me the toll booth before I get in so I can  weigh my choices about going in or staying out.  The problem with the alternative is that you get hooked on it by the time you receive the bills that leaving is no longer an easy option.

If you take a mental journey through all your digital experiences, I bet you can relate to many of the situations where money is an access control issue.

I find no problem with that, except that this delivery method will only become popular and more people who have the learning needs will be better off with access than the formal situation where the issue is that of both cost and access.

Wireless Networks

During my travel to Nigeria in the 1990s I saw the difficulties that the populace faced with telecommunication.  Telephones seem to be the exclusive property of the rich and the privileged. Many poor countries were unable to pay for the cost of building the infrastructure necessary for telephones.  In the case of Nigeria iy was not the same reason of poverty but that of lack of leadership.  They have the national wealth to build and sustain the infrastructure but failed its citizenry as a result of curruption and poor leadership.  By the time I came back in 2004 it was amazing to see the proliferation of cell phones.   One of the best things of the information age is that these emerging technologies are leveling the playing field for everyone.  It is empowering everyone and if you wait around, it becomes affordable and the rest will be history.

Cell phones are easier and cheaper to own and that is the main reason more people own them in Nigeria.  There are no need to build wired networks and access is possible even in the remote areas of the country.  This is a great promise for education.  Communication to school in remote areas are now possible.  Cell phones will become the dominant way to communicate and access course materials in the near future.  When this happens, we will begin to see a closing of that digital divide.  We will begin to see a true interaction and collaboration between the rich students, and the poor students, or between students in rich countries and students in poor countries.  There are an abundance of lessons to be shared in the different worlds and these affordable handheld devices may have the prospect and possibilities to help the world built into them.